Lecture notes on strings in AdS$_3$ from the worldsheet and the AdS$_3$/CFT$_2$ duality

TL;DR

These lecture notes introduce the study of strings in AdS3 backgrounds with NSNS flux from the worldsheet perspective, highlighting recent developments in correlation functions and the AdS3/CFT2 duality.

Contribution

Provides a pedagogical, self-contained overview of string theory in AdS3 with updates on recent results and correlation function computations.

Findings

Summarizes 25 years of research on strings in AdS3 backgrounds.

Includes recent advances in worldsheet correlation functions with spectrally flowed insertions.

Highlights key aspects of the AdS3/CFT2 duality.

Abstract

These lecture notes, based on the course given at IPhT in November/December 2023, provide a pedagogical introduction to the study of strings in AdS$_3$ backgrounds supported by NSNS flux from the worldsheet perspective, including a number of updates incorporating recent results. We attempt to give a self-contained overview of the state-of-the-art understanding of this topic, describing key aspects of its 25-year-long rich history alongside some important recent developments, with an emphasis on the computation of worldsheet correlation functions involving spectrally flowed insertions.